Do I need a voltage converter for my hair dryer?

No. Leave your home hair dryer at home. Converters are heavy, inefficient, and often break. Almost every hotel in Japan provides a high-quality hair dryer in the room.

Why won't my grounded (3-prong) plug fit?

Japan uses non-polarized, 2-pin outlets. If you have a 3-prong plug, it physically won't fit into the wall. Bring a 3-prong-to-2-prong adapter, which is cheap and widely available at hardware stores.

Are Japanese outlets different in the Kanto and Kansai regions?

Yes, they use different frequencies (50Hz vs 60Hz). However, this does not matter for modern phone chargers, cameras, or laptops, which are designed to work on both.

Packing Electronics and Adapters for Japan

Japan uses Type A plugs (two flat, non-polarized pins) and operates on 100V. You only need a simple, non-grounded adapter for two-prong cords, and most modern phone or laptop chargers are already dual-voltage.

Check your voltage. Look at the fine print on your device chargers. If it says 'Input: 100-240V', you don't need a converter. Japan’s 100V is lower than the US 120V, but modern electronics handle this range without issue.
Identify your plug type. If your cord has two flat, parallel pins (Type A), it fits in Japan. If your device has a third, round grounding pin, you must buy a '3-to-2 prong adapter' because Japanese outlets almost exclusively lack the third hole.
Carry a compact power strip. Japanese hotel rooms are notorious for having only one or two accessible wall outlets. Bring a small, lightweight travel power strip to charge your phone, camera, and tablet simultaneously from a single adapter.
Pack a portable battery bank. You will be using Google Maps and translating apps all day, which kills batteries fast. Carry a 10,000mAh power bank; it is the most essential electronic item you will pack.

Do I need a voltage converter for my hair dryer?: No. Leave your home hair dryer at home. Converters are heavy, inefficient, and often break. Almost every hotel in Japan provides a high-quality hair dryer in the room.
Why won't my grounded (3-prong) plug fit?: Japan uses non-polarized, 2-pin outlets. If you have a 3-prong plug, it physically won't fit into the wall. Bring a 3-prong-to-2-prong adapter, which is cheap and widely available at hardware stores.
Are Japanese outlets different in the Kanto and Kansai regions?: Yes, they use different frequencies (50Hz vs 60Hz). However, this does not matter for modern phone chargers, cameras, or laptops, which are designed to work on both.